Background
Patrick C. Keeley was born in 1816 at Kilkenny, Ireland. The son of an architect, with whom he was associated in practice for a number of years.
Patrick C. Keeley was born in 1816 at Kilkenny, Ireland. The son of an architect, with whom he was associated in practice for a number of years.
In 1841 the young Irishman migrated to the U.S., subsequently settled in Brooklyn, and in the following years established a successful practice. From the start he devoted his attention to church work, and it is said that at least five hundred Catholic churches and cathedrals were built from his plans in New York state exclusive of New York city, with others in various parts of New England and in Canada.
In New York Mr. Keeley’s outstanding achievement was the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street, and in other cities was architect of the following buildings: Cathedral of S. S. Peter and Paul at Providence, R. I. 1893: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland, Me., 1866-69; Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, the corner stone of which was laid in 1867 and also in Boston the Church of the Immaculate Conception.